Choose the most appropriate meaning/phrasal verb/word/verb for the sentence.

He still carries the torch for his high school crush.

Question

Choose the most appropriate meaning/phrasal verb/word/verb for the sentence. The new CEO threw down the gauntlet in the first board meeting.

Option 1: Quit his job

Option 2: Issued a challenge

Option 3: Dropped his files

Option 4: Apologized

AfterBoards · Accepted Answer

**"Threw down the gauntlet"** is an idiom that means **to boldly challenge someone**. Long ago, knights would throw their gauntlet (a heavy armored glove) on the ground to challenge another knight to a fight. Today, we use this phrase to mean someone is daring others or making a bold challenge. So the answer is **Option 2: Issued a challenge**. Let's confirm by checking the other options: - **Option 1: Quit his job** → The idiom has nothing to do with quitting or resigning. Incorrect. - **Option 3: Dropped his files** → This is a literal interpretation of "threw down," but the phrase is an idiom, not about physically dropping anything. Incorrect. - **Option 4: Apologized** → This is the opposite of what the idiom means — it shows boldness and confrontation, not gentleness. Incorrect. <hr> **Option 2: Issued a challenge** is correct. The new CEO challenged or confronted the board members in his very first meeting, showing he was bold and ready to take charge. *Example: "The student threw down the gauntlet by challenging the reigning champion to a spelling bee."*

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